Learn how to add multiple users to your Apple TV and easily switch between them so each person can have a personalized viewing experience.
Adding users to Apple TV ensures that every member has a personalized experience related to paired AirPods, content in Up Next, system language preferences, Game Center data, content in other apps, and more. Furthermore, movie, music, and TV show recommendations are curated for each user individually.
So, if other people use your Apple TV to watch movies or listen to music, it would be best to add them as users.
Just note that iCloud Photos and One Home Screen are only available for the default Apple TV user, and not all users. One Home Screen ensures you have the same apps and Home Screen experience on all your Apple TVs if you happen to own more than one.
Add a new user to your Apple TV
Open the tvOS 26 Settings app, go to Profiles and Account (or Users and Accounts in older versions of tvOS), and follow the steps below to add another user.
Add family members
If you have added family members to your Apple Family (iPhone Settings > Family), they will appear under the Suggested section. Select a member, and then you can sign in with their iPhone or manually sign in using their Apple ID. We’ve mentioned both methods below.
Sign in with their iPhone: Make sure their iPhone is nearby and connected to the same Wi-Fi as your Apple TV. Also, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on the iPhone. Next, select Sign in with their name’s iPhone on the TV screen.
This will show a Join This Apple TV popup on their iPhone. If not, hold this iPhone near the Apple TV, lock it, and then unlock it. Tap Connect on this popup. Next, a four-digit code will appear on your Apple TV screen. Enter that code on your family member’s iPhone to add them as a user for your Apple TV.
Sign in Manually: Select the family member and then select Sign in Manually. Now, select Enter New and sign in with that family member’s Apple ID.
Add non-family members
If you want to add someone who is not part of your Apple digital family, select Add New Profile. Now, sign in with their iOS device or manually. The basics are similar to adding a family member.
Use Control Center
You can also add a new user by going to Control Center and selecting the add profile (+) button. Apple TV Control Center may also show suggested users, and they have a little plus button at the top of their profile picture.
Switch to another user
tvOS 26 will ask you to select a user when you boot up your Apple TV. Additionally, depending on who’s watching, the added user can select their profile from the Settings app or quickly from Control Center.
- Settings app: Go to TV Settings > Profiles and Accounts > Switch Current Profile/User and select another.
- Control Center: Press and hold the TV button on your Siri Remote. Now, go to the users tab and select another user.
Set a default user
Even though you can add multiple users to your Apple TV, there can be just one default user.
The default user is automatically logged in when you power on your Apple TV on older versions of tvOS or if you have turned off the profile selector in tvOS 26. Secondly, iCloud Photos and One Home Screen are only available for the Apple ID associated with the default user account.
You’ll have to remove the account (steps later below) for the current default user from the Apple TV before you can add another default user. Later, you can add the current default user as a normal user by following the above steps.
Manage settings for each user
Go to Settings > Profiles and Accounts, then select a user to manage their settings. You can also choose to sign out of their Apple ID. Note that iCloud Photos and One Home Screen options only appear for the default user.
Remove the user from Apple TV
Head to Apple TV Settings > Profiles and Accounts and select a user. Now, scroll down and click Remove Profile or Remove User from Apple TV.
The Remove User from Apple TV may be grayed out if this person is added to your Home. In this case, go to the Home app on your iPhone and tap the three dots menu icon from the top right, followed by Home Settings. Now, select that member and remove them from your home. After this, you should be able to remove the user from your Apple TV.
Extra info: You also have the option to add a person as an Apple TV user when you add them to your Home app.
Check out next: How to set up content restrictions on your Apple TV